Spatial Analysis of Regional Sustainable Development Based on Geographic Information System and Relative Carrying Capacity of Resources

Relative carrying capacity of resources is a method for measuring sustainable development through carrying capacity. Case studies of eleven cities in Zhejiang (Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Jiaxing, Huzhou, Shaoxing, Jinhua, Quzhou, Zhoushan, Taizhou and Lishui) illustrated regional sustainable development approach. In this study, in order to provide insight into spatial analysis of region sustainable development, we calculated the relative carrying capacity of land resources, relative carrying capacity of economy resources and synthetical carrying capacity of resources in different cities in Zhejiang, and geographic information system was carried out. The results showed that the cities but Hangzhou and Ningbo were ecologically unsustainable, and relative carrying capacity of land resources in northern and eastern Zhejiang was larger than those in southern and western Zhejiang. This study demonstrated that geographic information system and relative carrying capacity of resources are effective for assessment of region sustainable development, and provide policy proposals for decision-making.

I. Introduction

Sustainable development has been widely recognized as an effective tool for harmonizing human society and natural systems. Assessment of sustainable development for effective region management is becoming concern, which included Relative Carrying Capacity of Resources(RCCR)[1], Ecological Footprint(EF) [2], [3], Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare(ISEW) [4], Environmental Decision Support System (EDSS) [5], and Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI)[6].